The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-07-20
THE BOUND GIRL.

"l'li hayo to do everything alone!'
Littlo Janet Rae stood with arms
akimbo, and looked about the great
Mason kitchen. Sho was nearly TWEEN
ty, but understood. Sho had but one
beauty her pretty curly head. She
was Mrs. Titus Mason's bound-girl-
bound to work for that lady until sho
was one-and-twcnty. Such wcro tho
terms Of the contract when Janet had
been taken from the orphan asylum, Il
tiny creature Of ten, nine years before;
and it was the hard work and scant
fare which had prevented her growing.
There she stood. looking about hor
ut tho array Of cooking utensils, the
rows Of mlk-pans, tho pilc Of wash
tubs, the shelf Of flat-irons, the capa-
cious wood-boxes.
That morning Mrs. Titus, the au-
thoritative, the energetic, had fallen
down the ccllar-stairs and broken her
leg. Tho doctor had been called, and
set it; Mrs. Titus had had nap, and
then lifted up ller voice and proved
herself equal to the situation:
s'I'm laid up for q month, Janet
that's plain to 30 seen. I've done
everything for you; now you must take
right hold and 60 on without me.
Thero'll bo tho cool1in' to do and tho
butter to mako moro than you have
donc, cxtEh but you can do 1t, if you
try. YOU'LL have to, anyway. ITayin's
over, and MI. Dent III be goin' homo
soon, So that'll be one less to provide
for,''
Janet heard in silence. Sho gavo
Mrs. Titus her yalerian, and then went
4 away, ana stood looking around the
kitchen.
'I'll have to do everything alol.e!''
There was such largo family, and
SO much work to be done, no wonder
llttlo Janet slrank; but she never
thought Of shirking. With breakfast
at five o'clock, and supper dishes to be
washed at eight, sho had always had
enough to do; but to undertake all the
active duties which Mrs. Titus had
been accustomed to perform, was al
most appalling.
Janet stood thinking how it was to
be done. She was such little thing.
1t took SO many Of her armfuls to fill
tho wood-boxes with hard and soft
wood. She must needs stand on box
10 work at tho tubs on the wasll-bench;
and hor arms grew SO tired at tho
churning. She had been trained to
great capabiity; but sho was not strong
enough.
But there was no time for reflection.
There was supper to get for tho four
farm-hands, Mrs. Titus Cruel to mako
and carry up, the milk to strain, tho
dishes to wash, the wood-boxcs to fill,
and sponge to be set for broad.
Janet rushed for pail of water.
Mr.. Dent was at tho well.
Mr.. Miles Dent was the summer
boardcr. lie had bought mill privi-
lege of Mrs. Titus and was building a
mill
llc was handsome, very pleasant
man--as perfectly healthy people arc
apt to be, and ho was very largo and
strong. In ago ho might have been
thirty, or tlcrcabouts.
Very old, indeed" Janet had pro-
nounccd him; and she had always been
q little afraid of him, his manners were
SO nice, and lie had such nice books in
his room.
Whether he was aware Of her exist
ance or not, she was not quite sure.
But he seemed to see tho hurryinp.
anxious little creature now-for, saw
ing My arms arc tho strongest y ho
TOOK the pail, filled it and carried it
into the kitchen.
Have your hands full, haven't you,
little one?" he said pleasantly, glanc-
ing about him. "Your shoulders hard
~ look strong enough for all this bak.
ing and brewing.n
Janet smiled shyly ~ pleased anr.
prised; but she was too abashed to moro
than murmur some faint response. and
Mr.. Don't won't away.
But she felt choered by tho frjend,v
words Of the big, brown bearded man.
and though Mr. Titus scolded her be.